Standard Lemma guide

smattering

noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈsmæ.təɹ.ɪŋ/
  • US: /ˈsmætɚɪŋ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: S M AE1 T ER0 IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A shallow or superficial knowledge of a subject.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • She knows a smattering of Greek, but not enough to carry on a conversation.
  • 1529, Thomas More, The Supplycacyon of Soulys [The Supplication of Souls], London: W. Rastell, Book 2, [...] he had a lytell smatterynge in the lawe: [...]

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: smatter

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A small amount or number of something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • There’s only a smattering of people who oppose the first amendment.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: smatter, ace, atom, thought, atomy, aught, bissel, bit, crumb, glimpse, dab, damn, dash, diddly, glint, dot, spatter, drop, dusting, fleck, glimmer, hint, flip, flyspeck, grain, halfpennyworth, inch, iota, jot, lick, mite, modicum, molecule, morceau, morsel, mote, ooch, ounce, particle, pennyworth, piece, pinch, relish, scantling, semblance, scent, scintilla, scooch, scrap, scruple, shred, skerrick, skoosh, skosh, sliver, smattering, smidge, smidgen, smidget, smidgy, smitch, smithereen, soupçon, spark, speck, speckle, spot, sprinkle, sprinkling, strain, tad, tidbit, tidge, tinge, tittle, toddick, touch, trace, trifle, tuppence worth, vestige, whiff, whit

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

present participle and gerund of smatter

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a slight or superficial understanding of a subject

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: understanding, apprehension, discernment, savvy

5

noun

Meaning 5

a small number or amount

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • only a handful of responses were received

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: handful

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: small indefinite quantity, small indefinite amount

History

Etymology

From smatter + -ing.

From Middle English smateringe, smattrynge, equivalent to smatter + -ing.

Across languages

Translations

36 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: повърхностни знания (povǎrhnostni znanija) — superficial knowledge
  • Catalan: nocions — superficial knowledge
  • Chinese Mandarin: 皮毛 (pímáo) — superficial knowledge
  • Dutch: greintje — superficial knowledge
  • French: rudiment — superficial knowledge
  • Galician: chapurreado — superficial knowledge
  • Galician: rudimentos — superficial knowledge
  • German: Halbwissen — superficial knowledge
  • German: oberflächliche Kenntnis — superficial knowledge
  • German: bruchstückhafte Kenntnis — superficial knowledge
  • German: Vorkenntnis — superficial knowledge
  • German: rudimentäre Kenntnis — superficial knowledge
  • Irish: smeadar — superficial knowledge
  • Irish: salacharaíl — superficial knowledge
  • Italian: infarinatura — superficial knowledge
  • Japanese: 少し (sukoshi) — superficial knowledge
  • Japanese: 生噛じり (namakajiri) — superficial knowledge
  • Latin: scientiola — superficial knowledge
  • Portuguese: laivos — superficial knowledge
  • Russian: пове́рхностное зна́ние (povérxnostnoje znánije) — superficial knowledge
  • Russian: кое-что́ (koje-štó) — superficial knowledge
  • Spanish: chapurreo — superficial knowledge
  • Spanish: nociones — superficial knowledge
  • Spanish: rudimentos — superficial knowledge
  • Spanish: retahíla — superficial knowledge
  • Spanish: puñado — superficial knowledge
  • Spanish: pizca — superficial knowledge
  • Ukrainian: поверхове знання (poverxove znannja) — superficial knowledge
  • Bulgarian: малко количество (malko količestvo) — small number
  • Dutch: handvol — small number
  • German: Handvoll — small number
  • German: kleine Menge — small number
  • German: geringe Anzahl — small number
  • Japanese: 少数 (shōsū) — small number
  • Japanese: 少量 (shōryō) — small number
  • Spanish: tenderete — small number